Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

Page 16 text:

Opera Celebrates Thirty Years At Memphis State The Renaissance instilled in man a fervor driving him beyond the rigid standards of medieval society to seek new interpretations of the arts, sciences and music. In the last decade of the 16th century, a new music form, opera, was born. Opera flourished for over 300 years across the world and now for 30 years at Memphis State. Right: Dorabella (Jane Keltner) laments the departure of her lover in Cosi fan tutte. Below: Memphis State students participate in the chorus of Opera Memphis ' production of Aida. 12 Features

Page 15 text:

There were no surfboards, no little deuce coupes and no palm trees sway- ing in the ocean breeze. There was no Beach Blanket Bingo in the sand with Annette and Frankie. Instead it was a Features Anticipation summer of Grease, curfew parties, Elvis tourists and Tiger Beach . Life at this beach was cool for MSG students and their guests who sought relief from the heat of another Memphis summer. The pool, located at the PE Complex on Echles Street, was a cheap, fun way to take a break from the hot and sti cky days. Opposite page: Top left: Soaking up those last rays of the summer is hot work for Sandy Jones (left) and Sandy Bain. Bottom left: Summer days are long and sweltering for a MSU lifeguard. Top right: A fast, rough game of water polo helps some to beat the heat. Center: The pool provides a good place for the guys to watch the girls go by. This page: Above: An innertube is good for getting a tan and keeping cool. Features 11

Page 17 text:

Memphis State Opera presented five full-scale productions — The Medium and The Telephone by Menotti, Manon by Massenet and Mozart ' s Cosi fan tutte. Susan- nah by Floyd was produced jointly by the Department of Music and Department of Theater and Com- munication Arts this summer. Opera undergraduates and graduate students were involved in productions of Opera Memphis, a professional organization. Usually cast in chorus parts, students par- ticipated with celebrated singers in major productions such as Aida by Verdi. Above left: Susannah Polk (Brenda Tucker) and her brother Sam (Bill Wooten) share happy moments in Susannah. Above right: Madame Flora (Debbie Baird) confronts her supposed supernatural nemesis, the mute boy, Toby (Nick Hyrka). Left: The cast of Jane Keltner, Louie Otey, Suzanne Chapin, James Justiss, Brenda Tucker and Steve White discover the deception of the lovers in the final scene of Cosi fan tutte. Features 13